Lava Flow Lookout and Big Pine Trails
Drought conditions are obvious when we hike on the western side of Kenna Cartwright Park. Wildflowers and some shrubs have withered or have faded and gone to seed. A few late season wildflowers and shrubs are still in flower or appear robust, like Rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus nauseosus), asparagus (Asparagus officinalis), white prairie aster (Aster ericoides sp.), silverleaf phacelia (Phacelia hastata), and field sagewort (Artemesia campestris).
Click an image for a lightbox view and a caption/ID.
Rabbitbrush is approaching the peak of flowering season this year and is already adding lots of colour to dry hillsides. A few others are featured here, including showy aster (Aster conspicuus), mustard (Sisymbrium sp.), and curly-cup gumweed (Grindelia squarrosa).
Can you ID some of these?
Fall approaches. Hopefully some rainfall will come with the change of seasons.